George i-l clark



it (No Model.) v

G.H.'GLARK.

LAST. I No. 498,237. Patented May 30, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H, CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 498,237, dated May 30, 1893 Application filed December 5, 1892. Serial No. 454,035. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CLARK, of Boston, county of Sufiolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lasts,

of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

Prior to this invention lasts for boots and 1o shoes have been divided transversely into two parts, one of which comprises the toe, instep and shank portion, and the other the heel portion, the line of severance being substantially vertical so that the heel portion could be eas- I 5 ily removed leaving the toe, instep and shank portion in the boot or shoe while being operated upon, but so far as I am aware such lasts have been employed only as followers adapted to be introduced into the boot or shoe affor the last upon which the boot or shoe was lasted was withdrawn. In the manufacture of boots and shoes the employment of these transversely divided two part followers in addition to the usual lasts is a large item of expense, but it has been found to be impractical to last the boot or shoe upon these followers, because the parts thereof are liable to move one with relation to the otherduring the process of lasting, and although such move 0 ment may be ever so little it impairs the style or fashion of the boot or shoe, so that the usual solid last has been utilized upon which the boot or shoe is firstlasted, and when withdrawn the follower is introduced. The sepa- 3 5 rate parts of these transversely divided two part followers have been connected together,

but the liability of said parts rocking or tilting one with relation to the other still exists, and hence they are useless as lasts.

This invention has for its object to so improve the construction of the transversely divided two part lasts, thata boot or shoe may be lasted thereon, yet the heel portion may be thereafter removed for the purpose of heel- 5 ing, while the fore part remains in the shoe.

In accordance with this invention the last is divided transversely on a line beginning about the middle of the instep portion, and terminating at or about the middle of the shank portion, the line of severance thereby extending in a direction toward the heel. This line of severance is curved, or made irregular, so that the shank portion of the front part projects beneath the instep portion of the rear part, saidinstep portion thereby overlapping the shank portion and serving as a solid foundation to resist the shocks or blows received upon the bottom of the last at the shank portion in lasting the boot or shoe. A locking pin, which is preferably a split pin, passes through the overhanging instep portion of the rear part, entering a socket in the abutting face of the front part, and said pin is preferably connected to acord or chain, which may pass through the instep portion of the rear-part, and enter a socket in or be connected to the frontpart. If there appears to be any danger of the parts moving sidewise one with relation to the other-,1 may provide a projection or dowel at the lower end of the abutting face of the front part, which enters a suitable recess formed in the abutting face of the rear part.

Figure 1, shows in side elevation alast embodying this invention, and Fig. 2, an under side view of the rear part, showing the recess for the projection of the'front part.

The "last which may be of any usual or suitable shape, is divided transversely into two parts, the line of severance 2, which is shown as curved or irregular, beginning at or about the middle of the instep portion, and terminating at or about the middle of the shank portion, thereby presenting a fore part a, comprising the toe and part of the instep, and shank portions, and a rear part 1), comprising the heel, and the remaining parts of the instep and shank portions. This line of severance, extending diagonally toward the heel permits the shank portion of the fore part to 0 project beneath the instep portion of the rear part, said instep portion thereby overlapping the shank portion and serving as a foundation to resist the shocks upon the shank in lasting. By making the line of severance 2, 9 5 curved as shown or irregular, the parts cannot be moved one with relation to the other Without spreading longitudinally, which it cannot easily do when contained within the boot or shoe. The locking pin 0, preferably split, passes diagonally through the overlap ping instep portion of the rear part, and enters a socket in the abutting face of the fore part, and said pin is connected to a cord or chain c, which is herein represented as likewise passing through a hole in the instep portion of the rear part, and entering a socket in or otherwise connected with the fore part, or said cord or chain may be connected simply with the instep portion of the rear part. projection 5, herein represented as a dowel, see dotted lines Fig. 1, is provided on the abutting face of the fore part at its lower edge, which enters a recess 4, at the lower edge of the abutting face of the rear part, yet if there appears to be no danger of the parts moving transversely one with relation to the other, said projection, and consequently the recess may be omitted. Then the parts of the last are constructed in this manner and locked together it will be seen that. a suitable last is formed upon which the boot or shoe may be lasted, and after the same is lasted the rear or heel portion may be very easily removed for the purpose of heeling, or for any other purpose, the fore part remaining in the boot or shoe.

Nhile I have herein claimed the line of severance as being curved as shown, I intend to include as within the spirit and scope of this invention and as the equivalentot said curved line, any irregular line of severance, whereby the parts when moved vertically one with relation to the other, will separate longitudinally.

I claim- A last divided transversely into two parts, the line of severance being irregular and beginning at or about the middle of the instep portion, and terminating at or about the middle of the shank portion, thereby extending diagonally toward the heel and presenting a rear part with an instep portion which overlaps the fore part, and a detachable locking pin which passes through said overlapping instep portion of the rear part and enters the fore part pointing in a direction toward the toe, the dowel 3, at the lower end of the abutting face of the fore part, and the recess 4, in the rear part to receive it and the cord 0' connected at one end to said locking pin, and passing freely through a hole in the overlapping instep portion of the rear part and connected at its other end to the fore part, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE II. CLARK.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. Novas, LUCY F. GRAVES. 

